Automatic siuktalihg



E. NELSON.

AUTOMATIC SIGNALING DEVICE FOR MARINE VESSELS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-9,19I5.

\ PIITPHI'QII Aug. 15, IIIIII.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

l,19&,770.

ATTORNEY WITNESSES E. NELSON.

AUTOMATIC SIGNALING DEVICE FOR MARINE VESSELS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.9,1915.

l ,1 9%,770. Patented A 11g. 15, 1916.

Z SHEtTS-SHEET 2.

I ATTORNEY barren snare "PATENT @FFTQE.

EDWARD NELSON. 0F JERSEY CITY. NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC SIGNALING. DEVIQE FOR MARINE VESSELS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD Nansen, a citizen of the United States, residing at J ersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Signaling Devices for Marine Vessels, of which the following is a specification. i

This invention comprehcnds certain new and useful improvements in signaling devices for submarine vessels, and has for its primary object, the provision of a slgnaling device which. will be especially adapted for submarines and the like. i

The invention has for another object, the provision of a signaling device of this character which will be automatically operated to signal to passing vessels should the vessels carrying the signaling device he in distress beneath the surface.

The invention hasfor a further object, the provision of an automatic signaling device of this character which will be of improved and novel construction andoperation and which may be readily installed in submarines or other vessels.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of an automatic signaling device of this character which will be of such construction that, if desired, it may be manually operated and Will be of such construction as to afford communication between the passengers of the vessel. in

distress and parties upon a rescuing vessel.

,With the above and other objects in view the invention resides in the 1 ovel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts .as hereinafter set forth in the specification and pointed out in the claims and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevation of the complete device showing the same as constructed for installation upon a submarine or the like. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail elevation of a slightly modified form of the normally closed float case. Fig. 4 is an elevation at right angles to Fig. Fig. is a plan view of the modified form of float case showing the same in open position.

Referring more particularly to the drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 1 designates a portion of the deck of the submarlne or similar vessel around the vertical shaft 17.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pmtentqgfl A 0, 15, 1916,

Application filed August 9, 1915. i

Serial No. 44,554.

having, depending from its under face a bracket 2 upon whichis pivoted, as shown at 3, a spring controlled locking trigger 4: to one arm of which is connected a flexible con necting member 5 which is also connected with a small float 6 and passes through a guide arm 7 depending from the deck 1. Resting upon the opposite arm'of the spring controlled locking trigger 4 is one end of the long weight carrying arm 8 radiating from the hub 9 which also carries a short radial arm 10 projecting fromits opposite side and provided in its upper face and adjacent its free end with a guide groove 11, the purpose of which will presently appear. The hub 9 has also formed therewith a segmental gear 12 and is mounted for rotation upon the stationary shaft 13.

The spring controlled locking trigger 4 serves to normally retain the long weight carrying arm in 1ts uppermost unoperated position. Should the trigger be operated manually, however, or by an upward movement of the small float 6 owing to water reaching the same, the spring controlled locking trigger 4 will be drawn away from beneath the free end of the long weight carrying arm 8 and the latter will be caused, by the weight 14: mounted thereon and connected by a flexible member 15, such as a chain, to the under face of the deck 1, to swing downwardly, thereby rotating the hub 9 and forcing the arm 10 upwardly and at the same time rotating the'segmental gear wheel 12 which is in mesh with the gear 16 mounted upon the lower end of the vertical shaft 17. This will cause rotation of the vertical shaft 17 which is suitably mounted for rotation, as shown at 18. in an inverted hearing member 19 secured by suitable securing members 20 to the upper face of the deck 1.

The securing members 20 also pass through a suitable bearing plate 21 to Secure the same against the under face of the deck 1 A suitable bearing nut 22 having a packing" therein for the vertical shaft 17 is secured to the bearing plate 21, as shown at 24. I The vertical shaft 17 has a pinion 25 mounted upon its upper extremity and engaged with the teeth 26 on one face of the reciprocating bar 27 which is slidably engaged through .the guide bracket 2Sinountcd upon the bearing member 19. The reciprocating bar 27 is sectlred upon the slide plate 29 which closes tion 33 of the float case 30 ,'said andior ns the top of the float case 30, said slide plate 29 engaging in the channel 31 formed adjacent the upper edge of the upper section of the float case secured upon the upper face of the deck 1, by suitable securing members passing through the flanged lower edge 33 of said upper portion of the float case 30. The; seem-"ing members 32 also pass'through thedeck'l and through the upper flanged edge 34' of the lower porlower portion 35 being secured to the 'under face of the deck 1. v

The normally closed water conducting pipe 36 has one end extending through the deck 1 while its opposite end .is secured in the lower portion 35 of the float case 30 and this water conducting pipe-36 is normally closed by a suitable valve 37 positioned therein and having a valve opening arm 38 v extending therefrom with the free end thereof resting in the guide groove 11 of the short arm 10, the valve 37 being of the automatic closing type.

Upon downward movement-of the long weight carrying arm 8 and upward movetending the deck into the float case 30 ment of the short arm 10 under influence of the weight 14, the free end of the valve opening arm 38 will ridein the guide groove 11 and thereby open the valve 37 to allow passage of water from above the deck 1 to the interior of the lower portion 35 of the float case 30, below the signaling tioned in said float case 30 and preferably provided with an annular flange 40' resting upon the seat 41 provided therefor by exfor a short distance, it 'being understood that the signaling float 39 extends above and below.

the deck 1, as clearly shown in 1 of the .drawin gs.

As the water enters the lower portion 35 of the float case 30 beneath the signaling float 39,, and the plate 27 is withdrawn"from the top of said float case 30, the signaling float 39 rises automatically until it reaches the surface of the water, the pivoted signal ing flag 41 secured to the top of the signaling float 39 in any suitable manner as shown at 42 being swung to upright position. under influence of the spring 43 secured thereto and to the signaling float 39. It will be understood that while the signaling float 39 is in position within the float case 30, the signaling flag 41 is pressed downwardly against the tension of the spring 43, by the plate 29.

Secured in the eve 44 at the small lower end of the signaling float 39 is one end of a cable 45 which is normally coiled upon the removable bottom 46 of thelower portion -the binding posts 49 in the upper portion of the signalin float .39, whereby the telephone 48 may be e ectrically connected with a telephonecarried upon a rescuing vessel in order that the persons upon the latter may communicate "with the parties within the vessel in distress. It will also be evident that should the cable 45 be of suflicient size and strength, it may also be employed for assisting in raising the vessel to the surface.

In Figs. 3, 4, and 5 I have shown a modified form of the upper portion of the signaling float case and in this form said upper portion is composed of two sections 49 and 50 with curved or convex upper portions, the sections 49 and 50 being adapted to slide upon the oppositely flanged guide plate 51 toward and away from one another to close and open the float case. The guide plate 51 has longitudinalguide flanges 52 formed on its opposite edges with bearing brackets mounted thereon and serving to support the stub shafts 54 which carry the operating arms 55 having oppositely extended short arms 56 secured to their free extremities and pivoted to the upper float case sections 49 and 50, whereby rotation of the stub shaft 54 in one'direction will force apart said sections 49 and 50 to permitthe signaling float 39 to rise from within the float ease. Rotation of the stub shafts 54 in the reverse direction will swing the operating arms 55v in the opposite direction and cause the short arms 56 to draw together the upper float case sections 49 and 50, thereby securely closing the float case and covering and protecting the signaling Boat 39, water being prevented from passing between the meeting edges of the upper float case sections 49 and 50 by the flange 57 carried by one of said upper float case sections and fastened beneath the oppo site upper float case section when said sections are in closed position.

Rotation of the stub shafts 54 in either direction is controlled by the reciprocating bar 27 which, in this form of the device, is

pivoted to one of the upper float case sections, in any suitable manneras shown at 58.

From the foregoing it will be readily seen that this signaling mechanism may be operated at any time desired by a party within the vessel by simply raising the locking trigger 4 to release the long weight carrying arm 8. It will also'be evident that should any accident happen to the vessel andespeeially when the vessel is of the submarine type and traveling below the water surface, water enteringthe vessel and reaching the small float 6, the latter will riseautomatically and raise the locking trigger 4, thereby iltltt? matically releasing the long weight carrying arm 8 and starting Operation of the sig- I naling mechanism.

While the preferred. embodiments of the invention have been clearly shown, it will be understood that minor changes in the details of construction, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages of the same.

What is claimed is 1. A signaling device of the class described comprising a float case, a float within said float case, a cable .connected with said float and with said float case, means for automatically opening'said float case, and means operated by the last-mentioned means for permitting entrance of water to said float case beneath said float.

2. A signaling device of the class described coim n-ising a float case, a float within said float case, means for connecting said float with said float case, a water conducting pipe leading to the interior of said float case beneath said float, a valve Within said water conducting pipe, means for opening the upper portion of said float case, and means controlled by the last-mentioned means for opening said valve to permit water to enter said float case beneath said float and raise the latter.

3. A signaling device of the class described comprising the combination with a vessel deck; of a float case extending through said deck, a float within said float case, a cable connected with said float and with the float case. a slide bar, a weight carrying arm, operable connections between said weight carrying arm and said slide bar,'means for normally retaining said slide bar in unoperated position, said weight carrying bar be ing adapted when released'to operate the slide bar and thereby open the case, and means for permitting entrance of water to the float care below the float upon opening of said float case.

comprising the combination with a vessel; of a float case mrried thereby, a float within said float case, a stationary shaft, a hub mounted for rotation upon said stationary shaft. a rotary shaft, operative connections between said hub and Said rotaryshaft, a slide bar, means :Eor operai. r said slide bar from said rotary shaft, means for supporting said rotary shaft, a lclckingtrigger,

. a weight carrying arm projecting from said hub and resting uponsaid locking trigger, a weight mounted upon said weight carrying arm causing outward movement of the latter upon movement of the locking tr1gger to inoperative position. a operating float connected 'witlrsaid loclging triga. A signaling device of the class described iii ger, said weight being connected with said vessel to limit downward movement of said weight carrying arm, downward. movement of said weight carrying arm causing operation of the slide bar in one direction to open the float case, and means for permitting entrance of water to said float case be neath said float to raise the latter.

5. A signaling device of the class de scribed, comprising a normally closed float case, a float within said float case, a slide bar, means for operating said slide bar to open the upper portion of said float case, means for locking the last-mentioned means against operation, a float connected with the locking means, and means for permitting the entrance of water to said float case beneath said float upon operation of the slide bar.

6. A signaling device of the class described comprising-a float case, a signaling float within said float case, a plate for closing the top of said float case, a slide bar con nected with said plate, means for operat ing said slide bar to withdraw said plate, means for causing the operation of the lastmentioned means and permitting entrance of water to said float case beneath said float upon withdrawal of said plate, and means for connecting said signaling float with said float case.

' 7. A signaling device of the class described comprising a. float case having its upper portion formed in sections, a signaling floatwithin said float case, a cable within said float case and connected with the latter and with said signaling float, means for moving the sections of said float case toward and away from one another, means for locking the'last-mentioned means against operation, releasing means for the locking means, and means for permitting the entrance of a fluid into said float case to force the float'out of the same upon separation of said float case sections.

and cooperating means for simultaneously opening said float'case and said fluid conducting member.

9. A signaling device of the class described comprising a float, a case for said float, a

slide cover. for said case, a lever, means tending to rock said lever, a latch member for holding said lever from rocking, and means actuatedby the rocking of said lever for withdrawing said slide cover from said case.

10. A signaling device of the class described comprising a float, a case for said float, said case being formed of a pair of slidin sections, an operating lever, means connected to one of said sections controlled tions to give movement to the second seeby said operating lever for sliding said sectiom meansfor normally locking said lever tion, toggle links between said sections to in inoperative position, means for convey- 15 give movement to the second section, and ing a fluid to the float case beneath said 5 means for normally locking said lever in float, and means actuated by said operating inoperative position. I lever for controlling the flow of fluid through 11. A signaling'device of the class desaid conveying means, scribed comprising a float, a case for said In testimony whereof I aflix my signature 2o 5 float, said case being formed of a pair of inpresence of two Witnesses.

10 sliding sections, an operating lever, means EDWARD -NELSON.

connected to one of said sections and con- Witnessesz. trolled by said operating lever for sliding WALTER HOPPER, said sections, toggle'links between said sec- FREDK. OEHM. 

